The entire Parishioners of St. Theresa’s in Arayampathy, gathered to celebrate the blessing of the new altar on Wednesday, June 26. There were 16 priests present for the blessing of the altar.

There were actually several things to celebrate during the evening Mass - most notably Bishop Joseph Ponniah’s first official visit to St. Theresa’s Church. Bishop Joseph presided over the blessing of the altar, and the dedication of a rebuilt and expanded tiled floor, which now features a larger surface.

“Our Church teaches us that when we gather around the altar, we gather in the communion of saints, meaning all of those who have gone before us are joining with us in praising God,” Bishop Joseph told the congregation during his homily. “As we bless this altar today, remember that it is something very precious and special for us.” “This altar, and every altar in every church, is very sacred,” Bishop said.

“It is very important that we know and see that as Christians. That is why the bishop is the only one who can bless and consecrate the altar.”
The altar, Bishop Joseph Ponniah explained, is the center of a parish because it is where the Liturgy of the Eucharist takes place. “It’s where we find our strength and nourishment to be the people of faith God is calling us to be,” he said.

He further told that the altar represented Christ and something “extraordinary and out of the ordinary” happened there every time Mass was celebrated – reenacting the Last Supper.

The new altar is first blessed with holy water, then anointed with Pouring sacred chrism on each of its four corners and rubbing the holy oil across the surface, and finally dressed with an altar cloth.

The surface of the new altar was expanded to allow more space for the Liturgy, said Father Ramesh Christy, Parish priest of St. Theresa’s Church. Father Ramesh was concelebrant at the Mass. He thanked the Bishop, priests and the parishioners who graced this event.

The ceremony culminates in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After mass bishop Joseph was facilitated by the parishioners. And then appetizing dinner was saved to all the priests.



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